The 87-year-old showbiz showbiz patriarch - whose children include Janet Jackson and the late Michael Jackson - was admitted to Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil over the weekend after reportedly suffered three heart attacks as well as a suspected stroke.

However, despite his terrifying ordeal - including having his heart stop for 10 seconds - Joe is feeling better after having a pacemaker fitted and a rep told TMZ he is ''grateful to be alive''.

While he went temporarily blind after an artery burst behind his eye, Joe regained his vision on Monday (27.07.15) and was ''cracking jokes'' in hospital.

Joe's family are said to want him to fly back to the U.S. for further treatment.

If the music manager - who also suffers from diabetes - has suffered a stroke, it is his fourth.

He previously suffered a mild stroke in November 2012, and was placed under observation at a Las Vegas hospital after complaining of pains in his head and difficulty standing.

Hours before his medical emergency, 49-year-old Janet posted a birthday message to her dad on her Twitter page.